Britain has announced it would take in hundreds of vulnerable Syrian refugees, targeting those most traumatised by the three-year civil war.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said refuge would be provided for female victims of sexual violence, the disabled, the elderly and torture victims.
Though there is no set quota, the overall number is likely to be in the hundreds, his office said.
Britain will work with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on a case-by-case basis to identify those most in need.
"I am pleased to be able to announce today that the UK will be providing refuge to some of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees," Clegg said in a statement on Tuesday.
"We are one of the most open-hearted countries in the world and I believe we have a moral responsibility to help.
"The UNHCR - which backs our new resettlement program - has said the highest priority should go to women and girls who have experienced or are at risk of sexual violence, the elderly, survivors of torture and individuals with disabilities, so that's who we'll target.
London has defended its policy of focusing on giving aid rather than offering a comprehensive resettlement program.
Britain has committed STG600 million ($A1.14 billion) in humanitarian aid to help alleviate the situation for displaced Syrians, making it the second-largest donor after the United States.
It comes as peace talks in Geneva break down, with the opposition saying the regime is "not cooperating".
The UN says, Syria's warring sides will not meet again today at peace talks in Geneva after a morning session broke up with the regime accusing Washington of "arming terrorists".
A member of the opposition negotiating team, Rima Fleihan, told AFP that UN mediator Lakhdar Brahimi had adjourned the meeting "because the regime is not cooperating on any subject, not on humanitarian issues and not on a transitional governing body".
"There will be no session this afternoon or tonight. The next session will be tomorrow at 10.00 am," she said.
Tuesday's morning session saw the regime present a statement it wanted adopted by participants condemning Washington.
The statement, obtained by AFP, said "the United States has made a decision to resume arming terrorist groups in Syria".
"This decision can only be understood as a direct attempt to obstruct any political solution in Syria through dialogue... Those participating in the meeting condemn this American step."
Meanwhile, the violence continues in Syria and the number of Syrians fleeing the country continues to grow.
UN figures show the number of Syrian refugees has grown fourfold in a year, from 588,000 at the end of 2012 to 2.4 million in late 2013 according to UN figures.
Britain has granted asylum to more than 2000 Syrians since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011 - 1500 of them last year.
Amnesty International said last month that EU leaders should "hang their heads in shame" at their failure to provide safe haven for Syrian refugees.
The European Union has accepted 55,000 asylum seekers from Syria, according to the Amnesty report.
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